redracer77 Posted May 17, 2014 Report Share Posted May 17, 2014 I am about to build a steel stand for my new tank. Tank dimensions 1500l x 700w x 600h Stand will be 700h max maybe lower. I have 35x35mm x 1.2mm square tubing, it will have 8 uprights and 5 front to back spans with some diagonal bracing. Does that all sound ok? Any suggestions? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
livingart Posted May 17, 2014 Report Share Posted May 17, 2014 you may find 6 legs will be enough but better with 8 are you welding yourself?, i have always found it better to tack it all together then weld joins in opposite sequence to avoid distorting the stand Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David R Posted May 17, 2014 Report Share Posted May 17, 2014 IMO 35x35 is probably a bit thin and bendy for the 700 front-to-back span, and the wall thickness is a bit on the thin side. IIRC my stand for my 180x75x60 tank was made from 40x40x3mm, maybe Hovmoller can confirm as he owns it now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redracer77 Posted May 17, 2014 Author Report Share Posted May 17, 2014 you may find 6 legs will be enough but better with 8 are you welding yourself?, i have always found it better to tack it all together then weld joins in opposite sequence to avoid distorting the stand No a friend who is a good welder will be doing it, IMO 35x35 is probably a bit thin and bendy for the 700 front-to-back span, and the wall thickness is a bit on the thin side. IIRC my stand for my 180x75x60 tank was made from 40x40x3mm, maybe Hovmoller can confirm as he owns it now. That is my main concern, I am planning on using 20mm chipboard flooring for the top of the stand to disperse the load. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
#!CrunchBang Posted May 18, 2014 Report Share Posted May 18, 2014 I am planning on using 20mm chipboard flooring for the top of the stand to disperse the load. use Plywood, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redracer77 Posted May 18, 2014 Author Report Share Posted May 18, 2014 use Plywood, Is plywood better than flooring chipboard? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David R Posted May 18, 2014 Report Share Posted May 18, 2014 Neither will make up for a lack of rigidity in the top of the stand. I'd use something thick like 17-19mm H3 plywood to help distribute the load onto the steel, but don't expect it to make up for an underbuilt stand. I'd use the 35x35x1.2mm stuff for the diagonals, but probably not much more. It may be ok for the legs if you use enough of them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redracer77 Posted May 18, 2014 Author Report Share Posted May 18, 2014 I will get some more steel and heavier wall for the top lengths and spans and use the 1.2mm for the legs and add a few more maybe 12 legs, 2 on each corner. I have half a sheet of flooring chip, that is why I was going to use it, but can get ply if it will be better. Is poly best under the tank or closed cell foam? I am having trouble finding poly that isn't 40-50mm thick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ira Posted May 18, 2014 Report Share Posted May 18, 2014 I will get some more steel and heavier wall for the top lengths and spans and use the 1.2mm for the legs and add a few more maybe 12 legs, 2 on each corner. I have half a sheet of flooring chip, that is why I was going to use it, but can get ply if it will be better. Is poly best under the tank or closed cell foam? I am having trouble finding poly that isn't 40-50mm thick Ply handles the odd spill much better than most chipboard. But if you seal it really well it shouldn't make much of a difference. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kinnadian Posted May 19, 2014 Report Share Posted May 19, 2014 Chip will swell, spills are guaranteed and you will hate having to empty the thing to replace the chip with ply once it's stuffed in 2 years. I bought standard poly from Mitre10 meg last week that was 12mm thick. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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